1792, ISBN: e4e1978be5eb9357e14916ce80284b33

Hardcover

[SC: 50.56], [PU: Printed for J. Johnson, London], A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS WOMAN FIRST EDITION,MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT EDITION, Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenm… More...

[SC: 50.56], [PU: Printed for J. Johnson, London], A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS WOMAN FIRST EDITION,MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT EDITION, Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenment philosophy and the history of feminism. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Randolph & English. From the library of Virginia chancery lawyer Henry G. Cannon with his ownership inscription to the pastedown and that of his father, the book's previous owner, to the top portion of the title page which has been excised and supplied. Period notation from presumably a member of the Cannon household to the first page of the dedication to M. Talleyrand-Pà rigord, Late Bishop of Autun, "This Talleyrand is the man who said that Language was given to man to conceal his thoughts And his Grace of Autun certainly acted up to his favorite sentiment E.G.C." Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Pà rigord was Napoleon's chief diplomat during the years when French military victories brought one European state after another under French hegemony. Wollstonecraft was prompted to write the Rights of Woman after reading Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Pà rigord's 1791 report to the French National Assembly, which stated that women should only receive a domestic education; from her reaction to this specific event, she launched a broad attack against sexual double standards, indicting men for encouraging women to indulge in excessive emotion. In very good condition with some intermittent foxing. An nice example with unique provenance. Overall, exceptionally clean internally. “Wollstonecraft’s major work caused an outcry when it was published and is hailed as a cornerstone of feminism…. The central theme of the work on women’s rights was that they should be educated to carry a responsibility in society equal to that of men. In disagreement with Rousseau… Wollstonecraft urged ‘rational fellowship instead of slavish obedience” (Legacies of Genius 64). "Although Wollstonecraft is best known as a feminist thinker, her philosophies are not limited to women’s issues… Wollstonecraft advocates liberty and equality for all humanity. Advancing arguments for political rights, she argues for the removal of traditional injustices of rank, property, class, and gender… The key to freedom lies in the reasoning individual conscience, not in laws or dogma… Wollstonecraft adamantly asserts that education inculcating reason will eventually emancipate all humankind from all forms of servitude (political, sexual, religious, or economic)” (Great Thinkers of the Western World, 322-327). The landmark work was written in a “plain and direct style, and it was this as well as the idea of writing a book on the subject at all, which caused the outcry that ensued… she argued for equality of education for both sexes… and co-education. It was a rational plea for a rational basis to the relation between the sexes… Its chief object was to show that women were not the playthings of men but ought to be their equal partners, which they could be only if they were educated in the same way” (PMM 242).<

1792, ISBN: e4e1978be5eb9357e14916ce80284b33

[PU: J. Johnson, London], WOMEN'S RIGHTS, MORALITY, SHELLEY, Luminously rebound by the Dragonfly Bindery in finely woven red Chinese moiré silk with a paper label with the title and autho… More...

[PU: J. Johnson, London], WOMEN'S RIGHTS, MORALITY, SHELLEY, Luminously rebound by the Dragonfly Bindery in finely woven red Chinese moiré silk with a paper label with the title and author on the spine. Very tight hinges and signatures with new endpapers. Printed clearly on vintage 1792 paper with occasional foxing to some text but mostly in the margins; tide marks to the corners of pages 383 to p. 452. The faint damp stain marks measure 3" across the top by 2" deep from the top corners. With a name and date at the top of the title page in ink: "Edw. Blake, Jun. Dec. 1792". And "Boston Library" in the middle of the title page to the left. With a 14-page dedication to M. Talleyrand-Perigord; and a 1-page Advertisement before the table of contents. Followed by an 11-page introduction by Mary Wollstonecraft. An attractive first edition of this venerable and ground-breaking volume. Scarce. " Mary Wollstonecraft's major work caused an outcry when it was published, and it is hailed as a cornerstone of feminism. The central theme of the work on women's rights was that women should be educated to carry a responsibility in society equal to that of men. In disagreement with Rousseau, Wollstonecraft urged 'rational fellowship instead of slavish obedience" (Legacies of Genius 64). "Although Wollstonecraft is best known as a feminist thinker, her philosophies are not limited to women's issues. She advocates liberty and equality for all humanity. Advancing arguments for political rights, she argues for the removal of traditional injustices of rank, property, class, and gender. The key to freedom lies in the reasoning individual conscience, not in laws or dogma. Wollstonecraft adamantly asserts that education inculcating reason will eventually emancipate all humankind from all forms of servitude (political, sexual, religious, or economic)" (Great Thinkers of the Western World, 322-327). The landmark work was written in a "plain and direct style, and it was this as well as the idea of writing a book on the subject at all, which caused the outcry that ensued. she argued for equality of education for both sexes. and co-education. It was a rational plea for a rational basis to the relation between the sexes. Its chief object was to show that women were not the playthings of men but ought to be their equal partners, which they could be only if they were educated in the same way" (PMM 242) First Edition, first issue, with title page dage of 1792 and "End of the First Volume" on p. 452.<

1792, ISBN: e4e1978be5eb9357e14916ce80284b33

[SC: 34.93], [PU: printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard, London], BRITISH | WOMEN SETS MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT, Second edition. [xix], [1], 452 pp. 1 vols. Second edition of … More...

[SC: 34.93], [PU: printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard, London], BRITISH | WOMEN SETS MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT, Second edition. [xix], [1], 452 pp. 1 vols. Second edition of Wollstonecraft's famous argument for equality of education for both sexes. Published the same year as the first edition in London in 1792. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) felt that women ought to be the equal partners of men and wrote ".that if woman be not prepared by education to become the companion of man, she will stop the progress of knowledge, for truth must be common to all" (dedication, p.v). Vindication was an immediate best seller and, although there was nothing particularly shocking in her writings, there was much critical reaction, with Horace Walpole describing Mary as a "hyena in petticoats," while the evangelical writer Hannah More found the very title so ridiculous that she publicly expressed her intention never to read it. Tallyrand's new system of national education was proposed to the French Assembly in 1791. In it only males would be educated. This inspired Wolstonecraft to write this work to show the need for the education of both sexes. Wollstonecraft's theory, as defined in a letter to Tallyrand, was "built on this simple principle that, if woman be not prepared by education to become the companion of man, she will stop the progress of knowledge, for truth must be common to all." Her work was "a rational plea for a rational basis to the relation between the sexes." (PMM) "She was the first to fuse experience, intellect, and emotion to attack the sexual basis of social and religious tratidion and to bring to issue to life as a philosophically based and practical reform to be incorporated forthwith in a specific society." (Sunstein, E. "A Different Face. The Life of Mary Wollstonecraft," p. 207). PMM 242 (for first edition); ESTC T6723 ; Goldsmiths' 15367 Contemporary half calf and marbled boards. Armorial bookplate of Joseph Humble. A bit rubbed at extremities. Very good<

1792, ISBN: e4e1978be5eb9357e14916ce80284b33

[SC: 50.56], [PU: J. Johnson, London], A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS WOMAN FIRST EDITION,MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT EDITION, Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenment philosop… More...

[SC: 50.56], [PU: J. Johnson, London], A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS WOMAN FIRST EDITION,MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT EDITION, Rare first edition of this landmark work in both Enlightenment philosophy and the history of feminism. Octavo, bound in full morocco, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition with some light toning to the text, contemporary name to the title page. Housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional example. “Wollstonecraft’s major work caused an outcry when it was published and is hailed as a cornerstone of feminism…. The central theme of the work on women’s rights was that they should be educated to carry a responsibility in society equal to that of men. In disagreement with Rousseau… Wollstonecraft urged ‘rational fellowship instead of slavish obedience” (Legacies of Genius 64). "Although Wollstonecraft is best known as a feminist thinker, her philosophies are not limited to women’s issues… Wollstonecraft advocates liberty and equality for all humanity. Advancing arguments for political rights, she argues for the removal of traditional injustices of rank, property, class, and gender… The key to freedom lies in the reasoning individual conscience, not in laws or dogma… Wollstonecraft adamantly asserts that education inculcating reason will eventually emancipate all humankind from all forms of servitude (political, sexual, religious, or economic)” (Great Thinkers of the Western World, 322-327). The landmark work was written in a “plain and direct style, and it was this as well as the idea of writing a book on the subject at all, which caused the outcry that ensued… she argued for equality of education for both sexes… and co-education. It was a rational plea for a rational basis to the relation between the sexes… Its chief object was to show that women were not the playthings of men but ought to be their equal partners, which they could be only if they were educated in the same way” (PMM 242).<

1792, ISBN: e4e1978be5eb9357e14916ce80284b33

London: Printed for for J. Johnson, 1792. [Political Philosophy] SECOND EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.[2] xx; 452 [2]. Contemporary tan half calf, with gilt titles to a red label, and … More...

London: Printed for for J. Johnson, 1792. [Political Philosophy] SECOND EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.[2] xx; 452 [2]. Contemporary tan half calf, with gilt titles to a red label, and further gilt decoration to spine. Marbled paper over boards; all edges trimmed. Spotting to title page and facing leaves, otherwise a crisp, clean copy, showing a few minor marks also to endpapers. Moderate wear and bumping to binding; joints starting, but holding quite firm. Very good. Wollstonecraft's famous exposition of the fundamental equality of men and women, first published in 1792. An intended second volume was never published., London: Printed for for J. Johnson, 1792, 0<